Gearing



K. ALQUIST.

GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 9, ISIS.

PaIendAug. 31,1920.

Inventor: Karl .9CH mist, b-MJ/GM' l`lIsottornc-l`g.

UNITED srmjlezs PATENT oFFlc-E.

KARL ALQ'UISTy-/OF SGHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

ammira.

the more' general field is for speedy reduction, and as a matter of convenience the 1nvention 1s 'descrlbed 1n connection with re- A duction gearing, but it will be understood that it is not necessarily limited thereto.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved lstructure in a double reduction gearing of the double or parallel drive type which will automatically take care ofany slight inaccuracies in the bearing alinements and in the tooth structure and maintain an equal division of the load between the sets of intermediate gear wheels. By al double or parallel drive type of gearing I fmean a gearing in which the load is transmitted from the driving shaft to the driven shaft through a plurality of sets of intermediate gear wheels which operate in parallel tov transmit the load, each set .comprisment.

ing a high speedv gear wheel and a low speed pinion mounted in fixed angular relation to each other on the same shaft. The high speed gear wheel and the low speed pinion may be ,both fixed directly ltothe shaft, or one of them may be connected thereto through a suitable coupling which will permit of more or less axial ladjust- Another objectof my invention is to provide an improved structure or arrangement in double helical gearing wherein the two parts or halves ofthe high speed pinion are' so vconnected together that'they can adjust themselves relatively to each other to take care of inequalities in the bearing alinements and in the tooth structures. A further object'of my invention is to provide an improved gearing arrangement 4which is compact, symmetrical, well -balanced and economical to build, .and as to these features `of my invention lthey may be embodied in a gearing of the double drive typereferred to above, or in a'gear-1 ing of the single drive type, as will appear more fully hereinafter. I

` both.

` the invention.

Specification ofLetters Patent. Patented Aug. 371, 1920. .application ined January fiaia serial No. 210,955. l l

For a consideration of what Ifbelieve to be novel and my invention, attentionis elirected to the accompanying specification and the claims appended thereto; i Y In the drawing, Figure 1 may be considered as being either a plan view or a .side elevation of a gearing embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a high speed pinion which illustrates the operatlon of the invention; Fig. 3 is a diadriving pinionrbeing shown vertically above the driven gear wheel, and Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic end views illustrating I different. arrangements of gearing.

Referring tothe drawings, Figs. l, 2 and 3, 5 indicates a high speed shaft carried in bearings 6 and having mounted on it a high speed pinion of the double helical or herringbone type, the two parts or halves of which are indicated at 7 and 7a. The part 7 has single helical teeth which run in one direction and the part 7a has single helical teeth which run in the opposite direction; t'. e., one part hasright-hand helical teeth Aand the other leftlhand helical 'grammatic end View of the gearing, the

teeth. lhetwo parts 7 and 7a of the high p speed pinion are so arranged or connected to each other that either is capable of sidewise adjustment or movement relative to the other, and .to this end I preferably make the shaft 5 of considerable length and locate the pinion parts some distance apart thereon so that there is a length of shaft between them. The sidewise adjustment may then take place either by a shifting of the angular position of the shaft as a whole, or

by a slight flexing of it; or the adjustment may be accomplished 'by a combination ofy In any event, the actual sidewise movement lis very slight and the exactmeans by which it occurs isnot material to In the present instance I have shownl the sha-ft 5 as comprising ay separate intermediate shaft length 5a, but the shaft may, of course, be Jmade alll in ,one piece. There are preferably four bearings 6, two adjacent each pinionv part, and to permit of the sidewise movementV refei'red to, the bearings 4ma be made slightly over size so as to,provi' e a clearance between the shaft and the bearing surfaces,

or the bearings themselves Vmaybe made l' adjustable sidewise. 9 indicates a ldriven shaft carried in bearings 10 and having carrying a high speed gear wheel which meshes with the high speed pinion, and a low speed pinion which meshes with the low'v speed gear wheel. .12 indicates the shaft of one of the intermediate sets and 13 the shaft of the other. Shaft 12 is mounted in bear- I- ings 14 and carries a low speed pinion 15 and a" high speed wheel which comprises two parts-or halves 16 and 16a, and shaft 413 is mounted in bearings 17 and carries a low speed pinion 18. and high `-speed gear wheel which comprises two parts 19'and 19a. The pinion parts 7 and 7 a and the gear wheels 16, 16a and 19, 19a form the high speed end of the gearing. ',Ihe wheels 16, 16a and 19, 19El have helical teeth s0 cut as to mesh with pinion parts 7 and 7a and such pinions parts are balanced between them so that there is but little pressureon the 'bearings 6. The gear wheels 16, 16a and 19 19a are preferably of the elastic type invented by me, wherein each is made up. of a plurality of disks, plates or laminae fixed atA their central portions on-a common support or shaft and 1slightly spaced apart .at their peripheries to permit of axial yielding under tooth pressure. The pinions 15 and 18 and the gear wheel 11 form the low speed end of -the gearing and they are, preferably of the double helical or herringbone type as shown.

Between all the gear wheels and pinions and the bearings for the shafts, which carry them, are clearances as indicated at 20 f to -permit of axial4 shifting or adjustment ofthe shafts in their bearings. A

.The pinion part 7 and gear wheel parts 16 and 19 are arranged. on one side of the low speed end of the gearing, andthe pinion part 7a and gear wheel parts 16a. and 19 are arranged on the other side thereof. By this arrangement the gear wheel .parts 16 and 16aL are located onV shaft 12 on .opposite -sidesof the pinions 15 and the gear wheel parts 19 and 19L are located on shaft 13 on op ositesides of pinions 18 as shown.'

y lthe above 'described arrangement I provide' a gearing which-makes possible a perfect division of load between the two inand 18, 19, 19a. This will be .understood best by reference to Fig. 2. In. this figure the pinion parts 7 and 7L are to be consid-` ered as being shown in side elevation, the .lines a, b, indicating a plane.; through the pitch lines; i. e., the-lines of engagement between the teeth of pinion parts 7 and 7aL and the teeth of gear wheels 16, 16a and 19,

19a. The gear wheel parts 16 and 19,en

gage the pinion part 7 on opposite sides' vment by a slight amount.

termediate sets of gear wheels 15, 16, 16a.`

of the shaft 5, and the full linee indicates a tooth on the near sideof pinion part -7` with which a tooth of gear wheel part 19 engages and the dotted line d -indicates a tooth on the far side of pinion part 7 with which a toothfof gear wheel part 16 engages.

The other teeth are .omitted for the sake of clearance, but it will be understood that they may be represented by lines parallel to the lines c and d. In 4a similar manner the full linee indicates a tooth on the near side of pinion part7a. and the dotted line f a `tooth on the far side, such teeth meshing gear wheel parts 19a and-16a withl teeth of respectively.

Now, as 1s well understood inconnection vwith double helical gearing, the. high speed by a slight sidewise movement of a pinion part coupled with. a slight axial and turning movement. It willbe understood that by a sidewi'se movement I mean a move ment of the pinion parts out of axial aline- This will-be better understood by considerjng the follow- -ing instance. Assume that in Fig. 2 the teeth o, d and e are in Contact along the pitch lines a, b, with the teeth of gear wheel v parts 19, 16 and 19a respectively, but that .the teeth f as represented bythe dotted kline are not in contact with the teeth of gear wheel part 16"", there beinga slight clear-f ance space between them. This .is indicated in Fig. 2 where g represents a tooth of gearl wheel part 16a. Now if the. pinion part 7a be moved sidew'ise in a direction toward' the top of the sheet according to` Fig. 2 by an amount equal to one-half the clearancespace brings the pinion part toward gear wheel part 16a and away lfrom gear wheel part 19a. It will be then brought `into -engagement with both of them by an'axial movebetween f and g then the teeth of pinion.v

ment coupled with a turning movement brought about by the driving torque on thel pinion part 7.

It will be understood that inequalities the division of the load between' the two sets of intermediate gear "wheels may be due to slight 'inaccuracies in the gear teethor in the bearmgalmements. "Inaccuracies Fin the bearing alinements may be due to their not v having 'been exactly alined originally, or

may be occasioned, for example, by wear or by a twisting'of the gearing casing. 'This latter is particularly likely to occur when the gearing is located on a ship due to the strains to which the ship is subjected in operation. i

From a consideration of the foregoing it will be seen that any small deviation from the true position of the gear wheel which may take place while the gearing is run-- ning and which may result in unequal meshing between pinion parts 7 and 7a and the gear wheel parts 16, 19 and 16, 19a respectively, and unequal division of the load, can

be taken care of by slight sidewise movement of one of the pinion partsz7 o r 7v coupled with an axial and turning movement of the pinion shaft 5. It will be ap lpreciated, of course,that these movements I20 are very slight, and that during operation of the gearing-such.movements are continually taking place. yCorrect meshing of the gear wheels and equal division of theload between the two intermediate sets of the gearv wheels is accordingly always assure-l.

1t will be understood that the high speed vpinion and intermediate gear wheels may be arranged at any suitable or desired point around the periphery of Athe. driven gear such an arrangement the driving pinion and intermediate gear wheels may be duplicated on the opposite side of the driven gear wheel 27, as indicated at 25a and 26-.

Referring now particularly to the symmetrical arrangement ofl the gearing', it willbe' seen that the dividing of the high speed `end of the ,gear into two parts,rone placed on each side of the low speed end gives a compact, symmetrical and balanced gearing structure. Furthermore, with such an arrangement the gear wheel parts 16, 16a, 19

and 19a may with advantage be overhung on the ends of the shafts 12 and 13 so thatonly two bearings are required for each of these shafts, thus saving anumber of bearingsA and reducing the cost of manufacture. The arrangement also insures a balanced distribution of the weight of the intermediate gear wheels relatively to the transverse central plane of the low speed gear wheel. This is of particular advantage in a gearing intended to be reversed, as a marine gearing, since there will be no tendency upon reversal for the low speed pinions-to changetheir parallelism with the low speed wheeland a good alinement is thus maintained. The arrangement furthermore insures a symmetrical loadlng of the low speed pinions 15 and 18 since power is transmitted to them from each Y l end of the shaft.

As to this symmetrical arrangement of gearing, it will be clear that it may be utilized with advantage in connection with a single drive type of gearing in which the` load is transmitted from the driving shaft to the driven shaft by a single set of intermediate gear wheels, as well as with tho double drive arrangement shown, andin Fig. 5 I have illustrated diagrammatically l such .an arrangement. In this figure, 28 isa 80 high speed pinion driving a gear wheel 29 through the intermediate set of gearing comprising high speed wheel 30 and low speed `pinion 31. The pinion 28 and high speed gear wheel 30- are divided into two 85 parts' placed on opposite sides of the lowv speed end of the gearing comprising low speed pinion 31 and gear wheel 29 in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1. In other Words, the arrangement is substantially vthe same as is shown in Fig. 1, with the exception that one of the intermediate sets of gear wheels through which power is transmitted from the pinion-to the driven gear wheel has been omitted. 'If desired, in the v95 arrangement shown in 'Fig 5, the drive may be duplicated on the opposite side of the gear wheel 29 as indicated at 28, 30a and 31a. Such an arrangement may be utilized, for example, where it is desired to drive a single shaft fro'm two prime movers, for example, a highfpressure and a low pressure turbine. y

In accordance with the provisionsjof the patent statutes, I have described the prinl ciple of operation of myinvention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. n

Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is A 1. yIn a gearing, the combination of a high speedl pinion comprising two parts, a low speed gear wheel, gearing means lthrough 'which power is transmitted between said pinion parts and the low speed gear wheel, and means connecting saidpinion parts together so .arrangedthat such parts can ad-v just nthemselves vrela-tively to each other by moving sidewise out of axial alinement.

2. In av gearing, the combination. of a pinion member having right hand helical v teeththereon, a pinion member having left hand helical teeth thereon, a low speedgear wheel, intermediate gearing means through which power isv transmittedv between the pinion ,members andthe low speed gear wheel, and means connecting said pinion i' members together 45so arranged that the pinion members can adjust themselves relatively to each other by moving sidewise out of'ax'ial'aline'ment. A

3. In a gearing, the combination of' a pinion memberv having -right hand helical Ateeth thereon, a pinion member having leftgwheels.

hand helical teeth thereon, a low speed gear wheel, intermediate gearing. means through which powerv is transmitted between the through which power is transmitted ben tween the pinion parts and the low speed i men't.

. sidewise out of axial alinement, agear wheel,

wheel, said pinion parts being arranged to move sidewise out of axial alinement. 25

In a gearing, the combination of a pinion member having right-hand helical teeth thereon, a pinion member having left! hand helical teeth thereon, a low speed gear wheel, and intermediate gear wheels through which power is transmitted in parallel be-4 tween the pinion members and low speed gear wheel, said pinion members being arranged to move sidewise out of axial a11ne- 6. In a gearing, the combination of a .pinion'member having right-hand helical teeth thereon, a pinion member having lefthand helical teeth thereon, a low speed gear -wheel, intermediate gear wheels through which power is transmitted lin parallel be-4 'twee the pinion members and low speed gear wheel, and means connecting said pinion members together so arranged that inion members can adjust themselves relatively to each other by moving sidewise out ofaxial alinement.

' 7. In a gearing, the combination of a shaft, a pinion member comprising two parts,l means connecting said parts together so arranged that said parts can adjust themselves relatively to each other by moving and intermediate gearingv members which transmit power between said pinion parts and said gear Wheel.

8. Inagearing, the combination of a high'. speed shaft having two gearing members' thereon, one of which has right hand helical teeth and theother'left hand helical teeth, means connecting said parts together so arrangedthat said parts can adjust themselves relatively to each other'by moving sidewiseA out of axial alinement, a low speed gear .wheel, and two sets of intermediate gear' wheels which transmit the load 'between said gearing members and the .low speed gear wheel, each of said intermediate sets comprising a low speed pinion which meshes with'the low speed gear wheel, and a high speed gear wheel which meshes with one of the gearing members', said (gearingmembers being balanced between sai high speed gear 1; 9. In. a bination .of a low speed gear wheel, a low speed pinion meshing therewith, a shaft for said pinion having projecting ends, a high speed gear wheel of the double helical type double reduction gearing, the com'- having its two parts mounted on the lends -of said shaft, and a shaft carrying spaced pinion members which` mesh with theparts of said high speed wheel, the length of shaft between said pinion members 4being iexible whereby said members can move sidewise cnt of axial alinement.

bination of av low speed gear wheel, a low speed pinion meshing therewith, a shaft for said pinion having overhung ends, a high speed gear wheel of the double helical type having its two ,parts mounted on the ends of said shaft, and a shaft carrying spaced pinion members which mesh with the of said high speed wheel, the length of shaft between said pinion'members being iexible whereby said members can move sidewise out of axial alinement.

1l. In a gearing, the combination of a low speed gear wheel, two low speed pinions meshing therewith, shafts for said pinions having overhung ends, high speed gear wheels mounted on the overhung ends`y of said shafts, and a shaft carrying pinion members which mesh with' said high speed (gear wheels, said pinion members being bal.

lanced between said'gear wheels and having 85 l0. In a double reduction gearing, the comparts right and' left-hand helical teeth resp'ec-jy tively:

12. In a gearing, the combination vof a low speed/ gear wheel, two low speed pinions Vmeshing therewith, shafts upon the central portionsof which said pinions are mounted, a high speed gear wheel of the -double helical type mounted on each of saidvshafts, said high speed gear wheels being`divided into low speed pinions, and a high speed pinion two parts,one located on each side of the v of the double helical type, the two parts ofv which mesh with the ranged so that one may move sidewise out of axial alinement with the other.

-13. In a gearing, the combination of ai..

partsof said high A speed wheels, said two pinion parts being arlow speed gear wheel, twolow speed pinions meshing therewith, shafts upon the central portions of which said pinions are mounted, a high speed gear wheel of th'edouble helical type mounted on each of said shafts, said u high speed gear wheels being divided into two parts, one located on each side ofthe iso of the double helical type, the two parts of which mesh with the parts of said'high speed Wheels, and a length of shaft connect ing together said two pinion .pinion comprisestwo parts one meshing with a gear'wheel at-eachend of a shaft,

. and means connecting said driving pinion parts together so that they can adjust themselves relatively to each other by moving sidewise out of axial alinement.

15. In combination, a low speed gear wheel, and means for driving it ,comprising lw speed pinions which mesh with said gear wheel, shafts for said-pinions which parts, the ar- .l rangement being such that sald shaft may.

project beyond the ends of thev pinions, single helical'highspeed gear Wheels mounted on the ends of said shafts, single helical hi h speed pinion lmembers meshing with saidv high speed gear Wheels, and means connecting said pinlon Vmembers together so arrano'ed that they can adjust themselves relatively to eachother bymoving sidewise out of axial alinement. f

16; In combination, a 101i7 speed double helical ear Wheel, andmeans for driving it comprlsing double helical low speed pinions which mesh with" said gear Wheely on opposite sides thereof, shafts for said pin'- ions Whichproject beyondv the ends of the pinions, single helical gear Wheel members on the ends of said shafts, single helical pinion members meshing with the gear Wheel members on each of said shafts, and means connectin said single helical pinion memberstoget er so they can adjust themselves relatively to each other by moving sidewise out .of axial alinement.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of January, 1918.

. KARL ALQUIST. 

